Presidents opening message 2026

Dear members and friends of our club,

Welcome to the 2026 season at Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union. I hope you have all had a great start to the year.

This is our 75th anniversary and it is a privilege to write to you as the new President of LCJRU. We have some exciting plans ahead and a clear focus on strengthening our club for the future.

First, I would like to thank our former committee members Simon Johnson (President), Cait Circosta (Treasurer), Claire Bacon and Alex Longley for their years of service. They leave the club in a healthy position and we are grateful for the time and care they have invested.

LCJRU will always be a community club where participation and enjoyment come first and winning is a bonus. That said, we must be honest about where we are. Player numbers have declined year on year and we need to act now to ensure LCJRU remains strong and sustainable for years to come.

Our goal is simple: rebuild to two teams per age group from U10s upward. Last year we had only one team per age group from U10 to U13. That meant experienced players and brand new players learning the game were often grouped together, which is challenging for players, coaches and families alike.

We had 179 registered players in 2025. Our target for 2026 is at least 250 players. To achieve this, we are taking several steps:

• Registration fees have been significantly reduced across all age groups, in some cases by up to 70 percent
• Active promotion through social media, banners, school visits and community events including stalls in Lane Cove Plaza on Feb 15 and 21
• Additional coaching specialists to help players develop skills and confidence
• Encouraging every current or past player to bring a friend. Try rugby and if you don’t enjoy it, we will refund your registration

Please note that the reduced fees for 2026 are part of our 75th anniversary celebration and growth strategy. Fees are expected to return to more normal levels in 2027.

We have already seen a strong response with more than 100 players registered so far. Thank you to everyone who has signed up early. We need that momentum to continue.

If you have not yet registered, please do so here: https://www.lcjru.com.au/registration 

For registration questions, contact our Registrar Caddie at registrar@lcjru.com.au

Sponsorships 

We are very fortunate to welcome back all our sponsors from last year. They are CobdenHayson, Staminade, Arcadia Landscape Architecture, Jack & Co and PEX Property Group. These sponsors play a vital role in the success of LCJRU and we thank them for their generosity and community support.

Key Dates 

Please save the following dates:

• Sunday March 1, 3pm – The Diddy - Welcome to the Season event. Bring friends and potential new players. Jumping castle, face painting, Staminade hydration station and fun drills for all ages.
• Wednesday March 4 - Junior training commences at Tantallon. Minis begin training on Thursday April 23.
• Thursday March 26, 7pm – The Diddy – Coaches and managers meeting.
• Sunday March 29 – SJRU grading round for U10 to U13.

We will also be announcing additional events throughout the year as part of our 75th anniversary celebrations.

Volunteers

LCJRU is fortunate to provide paid technical coaching support, but the club relies heavily on our amazing volunteer coaches and managers. Many have been supporting the club for eight or nine seasons. Their contribution is immense and very much appreciated. Please thank them throughout the season and support them wherever you can.

Our committee members are also volunteers and have already put in significant work preparing for the year ahead. We welcome five new committee members: Ben Willis (Vice President), Darryl Louw (Treasurer), Tom Uebergang (Minis Coordinator), Denis Hoctor (Minis Coordinator), Caroline Hobbs (Merchandise Coordinator)

It is an honour to serve as President of LCJRU. We are financially sound and have a real opportunity to grow and strengthen the club. Our ambition is to be the best junior rugby club in Australia, but we need your support to achieve it.

Get involved where you can. On the field, on the sidelines or behind the scenes. The committee is open and transparent and we welcome feedback at any time.

Thank you for your support. Let’s make 2026 a fantastic season and a fitting celebration of our 75th year.

Warm regards,

Matt Brownie

President

Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union